“Would you consider yourself detail-oriented or more of a big picture type?”
“When you’re dealing with a whole lot of information—to say nothing of all the competing personalities—you have to be both. Sometimes you have to get down in the weeds, but you can’t ever lose sight of your mission.”
With her voice muffled by the large melon cube in her mouth, Stacie summarized what she’d heard, ticking each item off with her fingers. “You’re looking for a high-profile job where you get to dress nice every day and interact with the media about important matters. You want to hire your own staff, and have people look up to you and admire what you do. And you want a nice office and your own parking space. Did I leave anything out?”
When she put it that way, it sounded hopelessly out of reach. That’s what she’d thrown away by turning on Nations Oil, and it was unlikely she’d ever get another opportunity like that. “Yeah, pretty much. But the problem is that the oil industry is all I know, and it also happens to be the one place I can’t work anymore.”
She’d scorched the earth behind her on the way out of Houston. If Stacie was right—and she likely was, since Karl Depew had several clients—all of the oil companies were united in their mission to run roughshod over opposition to expansion. None of them would be interested in hiring someone who had sold them out, and even if they were, she couldn’t bring herself to work for them again, not when Stacie was so passionately against it.
The optimism she’d felt when she first rolled out of bed had all but vanished. To make matters even worse, Stacie was apparently oblivious to her distress, grinning as she presented a strawberry at the end of her fork.
“Why are you smiling? This is serious. I have absolutely no prospects for a job, and I don’t care how much money you’ve got. I can’t just sit here all day and watch this river run by.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” She pushed the food aside and scooted closer, taking Cathryn’s hand. “I heard every word you said, and I know you’re anxious about what you’re going to do. I’m smiling because I happen to know of an organization that desperately needs somebody with exactly your skills. Someone who presents herself well and speaks with authority, and who isn’t afraid to step under the spotlight on the national stage.”
It took Cathryn a moment to piece together what she was talking about, and it filled her with frustration. “Stacie, I know you’re trying to be sweet and make me feel good, but who are we kidding? CLEAN doesn’t need a spokesperson. You guys hardly ever talk to the media as it is, and when you do it’s always through the back door.”
“Who’s talking about a spokesperson? I want you to be executive director.” Stacie hopped up to plead her case face-to-face. “Who better to lead the fight against these bastards than the brave whistleblower who pulled back the curtain on their fraud and corruption? You’d scare the crap out of them because they know you’ll cut right through all their bullshit and throw it back at them.”
Cathryn rested her elbows on her knees so she could bury her face in her hands. “I can’t believe you’re saying this to me after all the times we’ve argued about the oil industry.”
“And look how often you were wrong. I’m not saying that to rub your nose in it, but now I want you to look at all of it again in a new light. It’s not about talking up your company or looking out for jobs in Texas. It’s about reading the research again objectively and considering what’s good for the planet. I know if you do that, you’ll see it the way it really is.”
Executive director, the head of the whole network.
Her pulse quickened with excitement but she dialed it back thinking Stacie was simply making a gratuitous offer. “I thought you wanted Jenn for this. You can’t just push her aside because I’m your girlfr—your wife. You’d tear your whole network in half.”
“I love Jenn to pieces, but you could run circles around her in this job. Besides, she doesn’t want to be the ED anyway. She likes being in the field with the volunteers—that’s what she’s good at. We need someone who can elevate us in the public eye…in the donors’ eyes. Someone who knows the oil industry inside out, who can put on the power suit and sit down in front of Congress and get them to listen.”
Congress. That was a great deal more responsibility than being a corporate spokesperson, and though she’d been dismissive at first, Stacie’s enthusiasm was contagious. “What about you, Stacie? CLEAN is your baby, and you’ve always been the boss.”
“Because I’ve had to be, but we both know I’m not very good when it comes to getting up there on the stage. If there was someone else I could trust to handle the day-to-day operations and political duties, I’d put all my energy into building a board of directors who could help us win the support of everyone in America who cares about clean energy. Celebrities, dot-com billionaires, retired public officials. Difference makers. The fact that I have a lot of money gives me access to those people. I want the name CLEAN to strike fear in the hearts of everyone in the fossil fuel industry, and especially in all the legislators who do their bidding.”
Cathryn grinned to see Stacie pacing the dock, waving her hands wildly as she talked.
“We got lucky at Lake Bunyan, Cathryn. Nations Oil screwed up big-time and we just happened to be there to shine a light on it. Now the spotlight’s on us, and with you taking over the top spot we’ll make a splash they can’t miss. The press will eat it up. You have to say yes. There’s never been anyone more perfect for a job in the history of the universe.”
Could that possibly be true? She had all the knowledge and skills Stacie was looking for, but not the leadership experience. Her confidence could make up for that, especially with Stacie providing direction.
She drew in a deep breath, held it for several seconds and then began nodding her head rapidly. “Okay, yes.”
Stacie let out a yell Cathryn was sure they heard in Ohio.
“But not till the trial’s over. They’ll say my testimony is biased.”
“They’re going to say that anyway once they find out we’re married. But I’m okay with holding off on the announcement until it’s over because we’ve got a lot of planning to do in the meantime—like deciding where our headquarters will be.”
Already Cathryn was seeing herself in the job, even imagining what it would be like to go to work every day in an office where she was the boss. “What are our choices?”
“Wherever you want. I have meetings here in Pittsburgh for the shipping company, but that’s why God invented teleconferencing. What matters most to me is you being happy.”
Cathryn stopped Stacie’s hyper pacing by grabbing the belt loop on her shorts and pulling her back to the table. “Don’t you think it matters to me that you’re happy too? You built this house. Isn’t this where you want to be?”
“I’m not so sure. Pennsylvania’s not as conservative as Texas, but neither state recognizes you as my wife. I don’t know about you, but I’d resent paying taxes to a state that considered us second-class citizens.”
“So we should move…”
“Maybe back to Minnesota. I’ve never been anywhere that treated me with more respect and dignity.” She raised both hands as though she’d just had an epiphany. “That’s it! Minnesota. Let’s do it.”
Minnesota. Friendly people…blizzards. “Doesn’t it get really cold there?”
“Yes, but you’d look awesome in boots. I’m talking three-inch heels with skinny jeans, and one of those long scarves swirled around your neck a couple of times.” Stacie fanned her face. “Lord have mercy.”
“You’re serious.”
“Totally, but not Duluth. I’m more of big-city gal, like maybe Minneapolis, where we got married.”
“I’m with you on that one,” Cathryn said. “There’s more going in a big city…and you get more hits on SappHere.”
“Don’t even think about it. Marlene will be canceling her membership, and she expects Cate to do the same.”
“I knew there would be a
catch.”
“Let’s rest up a few days and then drive over and start looking around for a place to rent. After couple of years we’ll know if Minneapolis is the right place.”
It was only then that Cathryn realized her anxiety was subsiding, replaced by anticipation. She was eager for a new career challenge and excited they were moving someplace where they could build a whole new life together. “Are you sure you’re ready to give up this place? It’s really beautiful, and you’ve got family here.”
“My family is you now. Get used to it.”
As they kissed on the dock, a passing barge sounded its approval. An omen, she decided, for her new mantra. Make Some Waves.
Bella Books, Inc.
Women. Books. Even Better Together.
P.O. Box 10543
Tallahassee, FL 32302
Phone: 800-729-4992
www.bellabooks.com
Anyone But You Page 25
